\documentclass[green]{castle}
\begin{document}

\name{\gSpark{}}

\cenquote{``In my experience a \textbf{strong Heterodyne} will take about two hours to \textbf{truly} warp the laws of nature.''}{-- Carson von Mekkhan}

A spark achieves domination not through strength or sheer willpower (though these certainly don't hurt), but mostly through the creation of wondrous devices to warp the very laws of the universe to their wills. The creation of such devices of infinite complexity can be difficult and time consuming, nigh-impossible to those lacking the spark. We provide here a brief primer on the creation and operation of spark devices.

\section{Creating Devices}

\subsection{Laboratories}

A proper spark cannot do proper work in any old room in the chaos of the castle. They need proper equipment! Some areas of game are labeled as laboratories. This is where spark device creation can take place. Besides some laboratories make certain steps in construction easier.

\subsection{Components and Device Layout}

Spark devices are made out of a special type of item called components. These building blocks of invention are represented by square item cards. Like any other item card, a component will have a name and an item number. A component will also have letters representing connection types printed adjacent to some of the four edges of the card. In order to produce a spark device, a number of components should be placed on a grid (rotated in any way you choose) so that each edge with a connection type is adjacent to another component card having a matching connection type along the shared edge. Furthermore, each component must be reachable from each other component by way of such edges. Place the components along the grid of one of the provided \emph{layout sheets}.

\subsection{Power Supplies}

Deathrays do not run on sunshine. Well except for the solar-powered deathrays, or the giant magnifying glasses, or the RAINBOW DESOLATION BEAMS!!! Um, yes, well, the point is that any creation of twisted science must run on some power source. Some components will have a number listed under a \emph{power requirement} header. This means that the component requires that much power in order to function. Other components will generate power. These will have a number listed under a \emph{power supply} header. In order for a spark device to function the total power supplied by all of its components must equal or exceed the total power required by all of its components.

\subsection{Creation Process}

The device creation process is as follows:
\begin{enumerate}
\item \textbf{Collect Components:} Gather the necessary components. The castle is full of useful things to build with. Also, I bet that some of you madboys brought some interesting toys from home. Even if you didn't, I'm sure you could steal some from the others.
\item \textbf{Find a Laboratory:} A spark needs a place to work.
\item \textbf{Fugue State:} At this point some sparks will enter a fugue state as they begin the work of twisting the laws of nature. Consult your ability cards to see if this applies to you.
\item \textbf{Layout Components:} Arrange components as you wish on a layout card (or use more than one if you run out of space). You are now ready to begin assembly. While components are being assembled, they count as being on your person even if the item cards are physically on the table (and thus cannot be looted by other characters). This stops being the case if you leave the room. If your character is knocked out or restrained, \TODO{phrase this in a way consistent with the combat mechanic} you may recollect the item cards while your character is in this state.
\item \textbf{Systems Check:} First you must check your components for possible problems. You don't want your deathray to explode in your face, do you? Spend at least \textbf{5 Seconds per component} checking over each component in the device. You should use this time to make sure that you meet your device's power requirements and that any additional requirements listed on the component cards are also met. If you fail to meet any of these requirements, you may either return to the Layout Components step or abort the creation process entirely.
\item \textbf{Connect Components:} Now you can begin connecting the components to each other. Spend at least one second on each edge of each component card in your device to ensure that it is either blank or connected adjacent to another component with an edge of a corresponding connection type. If this does not hold for all edges, you may either return to the Layout Components step or abort the creation process entirely.
\item \textbf{Secure Components:} Affix your components to the layout card with the provided tape. Fill out the notes and bulkiness information (more on this later) at the top of the layout card.
\item \textbf{Done!} You are now ready to use your new device to aid in your quest to TAKE OVER THE WORLD!!!
\end{enumerate}

If at any point in this process you are attacked, someone within ZoC says ``I stop you'', or you choose to abort the process any time before the end of this process, it is aborted. The component cards remain separate items, and to create the device you will need to start over from the Systems Check phase. The component cards count as being in your possession until you leave the room or give them away.

Remember that devices that other players have may not seem to follow the construction rules exactly, as they may have abilities that allow them to circumvent these rules in specified ways.

\subsection{Modifying Devices}

Sure, you could decide to be content with the deathray that you have, but where's the fun in that? Inventions exist to be improved upon, making them evermore terrifying and deadly. Modifying an existing device follows a procedure very similar to the creation of a new device, except that the new component cards that are added are overlayed on top of the ones for the existing device. All of the rules for device creation must be satisfied for the components that are showing (i.e. any new components added plus any old components that were not covered up by new ones). Be sure to run the system check and connect components phases even on components/connections that were there in the original device as they may have been produced by way of special circumstances that no longer apply. Components that are covered up by this process are permanently lost.

\subsection{Collaborative Projects}

Some abilities may allow you to assist other sparks with their construction projects. For such collaborative projects, one of the participants must be designated the \emph{primary inventor}. Any assisting sparks must be within ZoC of the primary inventor for the Systems Check and Connect Components phases of the construction, applying their abilities where necessary.

\section{Device Operation}

So you have your shiny new equipment. Just one question: What does it actually do?

\subsection{Bulkiness}

Components have a bulkiness measured in hands. The bulkiness of a device is the sum of the bulkinesses of its components, and should be noted at the top of the layout card.

\subsection{Effects and Delivery Mechanisms}

Some components have listed effects that they can cause. Some components have delivery mechanisms listed. Each effect or mechanism has one of three types: combat, inflict, or misc. Whenever the conditions of a delivery mechanism of a device you posses are met, you may implement \emph{one} effect of \emph{matching type} from any component on the same device. Some components will have a combined effect and delivery. In such cases the listed effect and delivery mechanism can only be used with each other.

\subsection{Surges}

Some effects or delivery mechanisms may require you to spend surges. In order to do this, you must have components on that device that generate surges. Some components will have text specifying that they may generate surges under specified conditions. In order to use an effect or delivery mechanism that requires surges, you must have other components on the same device that generate an appropriate number of surges.

\subsection{Using Found Devices}

If you find a device lying around, you can prepare to join the grand old tradition of appropriating the inventions of other sparks and adding them to your own collection of death machines. Unfortunately, devices are complex and can take time to figure out. Upon finding a spark device that you didn't make (or has been modified since you did make it), you must first spend at least \emph{one minute} studying it before you can use it. This time should be spent reading over the various components and familiarizing yourself with what the device does and any restrictions that is has on its use.

\end{document}
